Laserfiche WebLink
<br />OWL CANYON CULT(/RAL RESOURCE'ENVJRONMENTAL RECONNAJSSANCE <br />Riparian ecosystem. <br />Although, area C is problematic, in terms of interpretation, its <br />importance to area's A & B is just as critical to the wildlife as the <br />surrounding Riparian, Shrubland, and Grassland ecosystems. Specifically, <br />it provides a safe day-time retreat away from human activity for almost all <br />of the wildlife observed in the two other areas. The association of food, <br />water, and cover is essential to all healthy wildlife habitats; and this case <br />is no exception. <br />Prehistoric Period <br />Grtrater Cultural Setting <br />The difficulty in interpreting the cultural history of the effected area <br />is due to Three main reasons: <br />1) It lies in a broad cultural and environmental ecotone) zone between <br />the Northern and Southern Great Plains, Mountains, and Greater <br />Southwest Cultural Regions. Cover time the loosely defined borders of <br />these regions shifted many times creating a complex multi-component <br />cultural continuum that lasted well into historic times. <br />2) Its close proximity to a natural trail route connecting all of these <br />regions. <br />3) Its year-round fresh water supply. <br />These factors when considered separately make the proposed mining <br />area worthy of many months of study, however, when considered together <br />their obvious -and not so obvious effects - on this area's cultural history <br />aze an imposing obstacle for further research; that will take a great deal <br />more field work, testing, and laboratory study to begin to solve. <br />Archeology Fieldwork <br />The following is a reconnaissance archeological report based upon <br />fieldwork performed on February 2, 1998. It is also important to again <br />note that there are no scientifically recorded archeological sites in Section <br />